Method of and apparatus for unwinding strand material



Nov. 5, 1929. MOD. YANCEY METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR UNWINDING STRAND MATERIAL Filed March 22, 1927 Thar/#0 Patented Nov. 5, 1929 THORNTON MCDUFFEY YANCEY, OF OAK PARK, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO WESTERN ELEC- TRIO COMPANY, INCORPORATED, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR 'UNWINDING STRAND MATERIAL Application filed March 22, 1927. Serial No. 177,268.

This invention relates to methods of and apparatus for unwinding strand material, and more particularly to methods of and apparatus for unwinding conductors, covering strands and the like from individual supplies thereof under minimum tension.

The expeditious withdrawal or unwindlng of strand material from a supply thereof is in some instances largely dependent upon the tension imposed upon individual strands during the withdrawing operation. Thus, for example, in the process of supplying a cable with a covering of strand material and likewise in the process of stranding cables, it is the practice in some instances to withdraw strands of such materials directly from a circular series of supply reels. In order to avoid breakage during the withdrawal thereof, due to the tension imposed thereon, the individual strands employed must be capable of withstanding a pulling force which is equivalent to that required to rotate the supply'reels. c Q The primary objects of this invention are to provide improved methods of and apparatus for unwinding strand material. under minimum tenslon.

In accordance with the general features thereof, the invention contemplates the withdrawal of strands from a plurality of strand supplies mounted on a rotatable head. Each strand is passed from its respective supply over a driven friction member and then redirected into association with the supply in such a manner that the total force required to rotate the supply in withdrawing the strand therefrom will be distributed between the portions of the strand directed toward and away from the supply. Thus the tension imposed by the force to which the strands need be subjected is materially reduced, the distribution of the total force required to rotate the supplies being dependent upon the number of times each strand passes between the friction member and its companion supply.

These and other objects willbe apparent from the following detailed description and the accompanying drawing, wherein Fig. 1 discloses a strand serving mechanism, shown partly in section, representing one embodiment of the invention by means of which the improved method may be effectively practiced;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary end elevational view of the strand serving ,mechanism as viewed on the line 22 of Fig. 1 V

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary detailed plan view of one of a strand supply and an associated friction member as viewed on. the line -33 of Fig. 2, and i Fig. 4 discloses an alternative embodiment of the invention in connection with supply reels of a cable stranding apparatus.

Referring now tothe drawing wherein like numerals have been employed to, designate similar parts throughout the various figures, it will be observed that Figs. 1 and 2 disclose a plurality of strand supplies 10 rotatably mounted and equally spaced in a circular path on the face of a rotaryhead '11. This head 11 is rotatably supported by a bearing 13, rotation being imparted to the head through a gear 14 secured theretoand a companion gear 15 meshing therewith mounted upon a shaft 17 which is driven from a suitable source of power supply (not shown). The head 11 supports a plurality of rotatable cylinders or friction members 18 arranged in a circular series, each of these friction members being companion to one of the strand supplies 10 and adapted to engage with and receive an individual strand 2O directed from a companion strand supply. The inner ends ofthe friction members 18 carry gears 21 which mesh with a stationary gear 23 formed integral with and at the forward extremity of acen-- tral cylindrical support 24 secured in fixed position within the bearing 13.

Mounted within the cylindrical support 2a are a pair of conventional cable forming dies 26 and 27, the die 26 being designed to receive cable strands from a forming plate 29 also of conventional design. A capstan 30 serves to draw a cable 32 through the dies and this capstan is driven by means of any suitable driving mechanism (not shown). The

. strands 20 which may be oomprisedof a pluthe surface of the friction member 18 and then redirected into association with the periphery of the strand supply 10. In Figs. 1 and 3 it will be observed that the strands 20 are passed around the strand supplies 10 two times and upon completing the last turn around the supply the strands are again directed into association with the surface of the friction member 18 and then passed through guides 33 which are secured in posi tion upon support bars positioned intermediate the friction members 18 and carried by the rotary head 11. After passing through the guides 33 the strands 20 converge toward the surface of the cable 32 and it will be obvious that upon the rotation of the head 11 in a direction indicated-by the directional arrow in Fig. 2, the strands will be wrapped in helical formation upon the cable as the cable is being advanced through the action of the capstan 30. v

Upon rotation of the head 11 the gears 21 which mesh with the stationary gear 23 cause their companion friction members 18 to be rotated in a direction indicated by the directional arrows in Fig. 2, and it will be clear that the three strand portions which are directed from their respective supplies into contact with the'surface of the companion driving member will effect the rotation of the 1 supply and a consequent unwinding or withdrawal of strand therefrom. The withdrawing of strands from the supplies 10 in this manner is to be clearly distinguished from the withdrawal of a single strand from the supply and then passing such a strand directly into covering relation with an advancing cable without first redirecting the strand into association with the supply. The direct withdrawal of a single strand from the supply in this manner causes a tension to be imposed upon the strand which is occasioned by the total pulling force necessary to impart rotation to the supply as distinguished from the methoddisclosed in the drawing wherein the total force required to rotate the supplies 10 may be distributed between a plurality of portions of the withdrawn strand. In other words, the tension imposed upon the withdrawn strand shown in Figs. 1 to 3 inclusive is approximately one third the tension which would be imposed upon such' a' strand if it were drawn from the supply 10 and then passed directly to the cable 32 without first wrapping the strand around a friction member and the supply in the manner just de scribed.

An alternative form or embodiment of the invention is disclosed [in Fig. 4 wherein a fragmentary, sectional view of certain porti-ons of a cable stranding apparatus are disclosed. A plurality of wire or strand supply reels 36 are rotatably mounted upon a shaft 38' horizontally disposed between rotary heads 39 and 40. For purposes of illustration, one group of these supply reels are shown, but it is to be understood that in practice a plurality of such groups are rotatably mounted onshafts arranged in a circular series about the axis of the heads 39 and 40 simulating the relative positions of the axes of the strand supplies 10. Disposed in parallelism with each of. the shafts 38 is a companion shaft 42 which is rotatable within the heads 39 and 40, this shaft 42 being provided with a gear 43 which meshes with a stationary gear l6. Spaced along the shaft 42 and secured thereto is a pair of cylindrical friction members 47 and each of these friction members are companion to one of the supply reels 36 and designed to receive a strand of wire 49 directed therefrom. Tl is strand upon passing from the peripheral surface of the friction member 4'7 is redirected into association with the peripheral surface of thestrand supplies carried by the reels 36 and from this position the strands are directed by suitable guides 50 through a conventional hollow strander trunnion 52 and thence to a forming plate (not shown) similar to the forming plate 29 disclosed in Fig. 1. In withdrawing wire strands from supply reels 36 in this manner the tension imposed upon the wire is considerably less than the tension to which such wire would be subjected in the event that it should be drawn from the reel and passed directly into association with the forming plate without first being redirected to the supply reel from which it was being unwound. The principle involved in the production of a minimum tension in the withdrawn wire strands 49 is similar to that hereinbefore set forth in connection with the apparatus disclosedin Figs. 1 to 3 inclusive. namely, the principle of distributing the total force required to rotate the reel 36 between a plurality of portions of the wire strand.

In the event that it is not desirable to redirect the strand from the friction member into direct engagement with the supply of material carried by the reels, a reel 53 (Fig. 4) may be employed which is provided with an auxiliary reel 54. A wire strand directed from the supply carried by the reel 53 is wrapped around a friction member 56 similar to the members 47 and then directed into association with the surface of the auxiliary reel 54. The strand from the auxiliary reel 54 may be carried into associationwith the peripheral surface of a friction member 57 which is secured to the shaft42 and then r edirected into association with an auxiliary reel. The strand may be wrapped around the auxiliary reel 54'and the friction member 57 many times as it is deemed desirable and then guided through the strander trunnion 52. By employing a reel 53 equipped with an auxiliary reel as described the ten sion imposed upon the withdrawn wire strands is reduced to a minimum in a manner similar to that already described in connection with the functioning of the reels 36 and in addition precludes the necessity of passing the strand into direct association or contact with the peripheral surface of the strand supply.

From the foregoing it will be understood that the invention is particularly applicable for use in connection with the withdrawing or unwinding of strands such as the strands which may comprise a plurality of individual strands of fibrous material, such as multiple strands of cotton material, and also lends itself in connection with the withdrawing of single strands such as the wire strands 49 disclosed in Fig. 4. As has already been suggested, this invention'enables the withdrawal of strands from supplies under minimum tension and therefore is readily capable of being used in connection with the unwinding of strand material which will not withstand a tensionimposed by a pulling force which is required to rotate the supply from which the strand is withdrawn. By employing the described apparatus, any tendency of the strand supplies to overrun and cause a momentary slackness in the strand during the withdrawing operation is positively precluded. Hence the strands may be withdrawn at a uniform, constant speed without experiencing any sudden or momentary increases in tension which would necessarily result if any slaclmess were present. This invention provides a method and an apparatus whereby strands may be quickly unwound and directed to a predetermined position with a minimum amount of breakage during the unwinding operation.

. Although the invention has herein been disclosed in connection with particular types of strand serving apparatus, it will be understood that it is capable of other applications and should be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.

WVhat is claimed is:

1. The method of unwinding strand material from a supply thereof, which consists in passing a strand withdrawn from the supply through apredetermined position, then passing the strand into association with the supply so as to distribute the total force required to withdraw strand from the supply between a plurality of portions of the strand.

2. The method of unwinding strand material from a rotatable supply thereof, which consists in frictionally engaging a strand withdrawn from the supply, and then passing the strand into association with the supply so as to distribute the total force required to rotate the supply between a plurality of portions of the strand.

3. The method of unwinding strand material from a series of rotatable strand supplies spaced around acommon axis, which consists in frictionally engaging strands withthe strands thus withdrawn around their respective supplies so as to distribute the force required to rotate the supplies between a plurality of portions of the strands withdrawn from eachsupply.

4. In apparatus for unwinding strandmaterial from a supply thereof, means for supporting a strand supply, means forapplying a withdrawing force to a strand froma supported supply, and means for causing a distribution of the total force required to withdraw the strand from the supply between a plurality of portions of the strand associated with the supply.

5. In apparatus material from a supplythereof,n1eans for sup? porting a strand supply,means for applying a withdrawing force to a strand from asupported supply, means including'a cylindrical memberfor frictionally engaging the strand and passing the strand into association with the supply to cause a distribution of the total force required to withdraw thestrand from the supply between a plurality of portions of the strand to minimize the tension on the for unwinding strand drawn from the supplies, and then wrapping I strand portion withdrawn directly from the supply.

6. In apparatus for unwinding strand material from a supply thereof,means for supporting a strand supply, means for applying a withdrawingforce to a strand from a supported supply, and means for frictionally engaging a strand withdrawn from the supply and for directing the strand into association with the supply to cause a distribution of the total force required to withdraw the strand from the supply between a plurality of portions of th'e strand.

7 In apparatus for :unwinding strand material from a supply thereof, a rotary means for supporting a strand supply, means for applying a withdrawing force to a strand from a supported supply, and means asso ciated with the rotary support for frictionally engaging the strand and passing the strand into association with the supply to cause a distribution of the total force required to withdraw the strand from the supply between a plurality of portions of the strand to minimize the tensionon the strand portion withdrawn directly from the supply.

8. In apparatus for unwinding strand material from a supply thereof, a rotary means for supporting a strand supply, means for applying a withdrawing force to a strand from a supported supply, and a cylindrical minimize the tension on the strand portion withdrawn directly from the supply.

9. In apparatus for unwinding strand material from a supply thereof, a rotary means for supporting a strand supply means for applying a withdrawing force to a strand froma supported supply, means for actuating the rotary support, and a cylindrical friction member rotatable in response to the rotation of the support for engaging a plurality of turns of a strand each associated with the supply to cause a distribution of the total force required to withdraw the strand from the supply between a plurality of portions of the strand to minimize the tension on the strand portion withdrawn directly from the supply. V

'10. In apparatus for unwinding strand material from a supply thereof, a rotary means for eccentrically supporting a strand supply, means for actuating the rotary support, and a cylindrical friction member for engaging a plurality of turns of a strand Wound about a supported supply, said friction member being carried by the support and rotatable in response to the actuation thereof.

11. In apparatus for unwinding strand material from a supply thereof, a rotary means for supporting a plurality of strand supplies arranged in a circular series, means for actuating the rotary support, and a cylindrical friction member companion to each supported strand supply and carried by the rotary support, each friction member being rotatable in response to the rotation of the support and having the axis thereof parallel with the axis of a companion supply.

In Witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 12th day of March, A. D. 1927. THORNTON MCDUFFEY YANCEY. 

